Long-term results of extraction of childhood cataracts and intraocular lens implantation

PurposeTo study the long-term changes in refraction and visual outcome after extraction of congenital/ developmental cataracts and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children.MethodsCataract extraction and IOL implantation were performed in 33 eyes of 21 children aged 4–59 months. Refraction and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured 4–5 years later. The cases were grouped by age at surgery: Group A: ≤1 year, Group B: 1–3 years, and Group C: >3 years.ResultsThe mean myopic change was significantly lower in bilateral (mean −3.88 ± 2.47 D) than in unilateral (mean −7.68 ± 5.04 D) cases (p = 0.003). The latest BCVA values were logMAR 0.76 ± 0.86 and logMAR 0.43 ± 0.32 in unilateral and bilateral cases, respectively (p = 0.055). The mean myopic change values were −5.17 ± 4.49 D, −6.34 ± 3.44 D, and −3.45 ± 2.50 D in Groups A, B, and C, respectively (p = 0.104). The latest BCVA values were logMAR 0.84 ± 0.46, logMAR 0.55 ± 0.64, and logMAR 0.14 ± 0.17 in Groups A, B, and C, respectively (p = 0.035).ConclusionBest-corrected Snellen visual acuity ≥0.2 was achieved in most patients. We found less myopic shift in patients with bilateral cataracts and better visual outcomes in patients who underwent cataract surgery at older ages, probably because the cataracts in older patients were less dense initially and thus less likely to cause deprivation amblyopia.